The Verdant Merchant

Rowen only recognized Marn and Talia among the group. The other two—a sharp-eyed mage with a trimmed beard and a broad-shouldered man in a knight's uniform—were strangers to him. Their presence caught him off guard. For a moment he thought about stepping forward to introduce himself, but Marn's startled expression stopped him.

"Rowen? You… What are you doing here?" Marn blurted out, clearly not expecting to find the boy inside this shabby little shop.

Marn froze as soon as his eyes landed on the boy behind the counter. Rowen.

He remembered him well, one of his sharper students, back before the boy suddenly left school. Marn had urged him then to pursue the scholar's path, to use his mind in service of humanity's survival, perhaps even to help advance the technology that kept the fragile world moving. But Rowen had refused, walking away from the classroom without looking back.

Now, to see him here of all places, inside this shabby, nameless shop where people came and went as if buying treasures, left Marn speechless.

Alric leaned closer to Cedric, his eyes drifting over the stacked crates of tomatoes and potatoes. "This is it? This is what had the students worked up?" His tone carried open disbelief.

Cedric's frown deepened. He watched a pair of townsfolk leave with bulging sacks and faces lit as if they'd won a prize. "Doesn't make sense," he muttered. "Vegetables shouldn't draw that kind of reaction."

Talia said nothing. Her gaze lingered on Rowen, calm but thoughtful. She already knew what they would soon discover: that the goods here weren't ordinary crops. But she kept that to herself for now, letting the others wrestle with their confusion.

Marn finally broke the silence. "That boy," he said quietly, "he was one of my students. A sharp mind, wasted when he left. And now… he's here, of all places."

Alric's brows lifted, his interest caught. "Your student?"

Cedric crossed his arms, still studying Rowen as though trying to read something beyond the boy's plain expression.

The small shop suddenly felt heavier, as if all eyes were measuring Rowen for answers.

Alric's lips curled in a half-smirk as he leaned toward Cedric. "So this is it? A former student of yours selling common vegetables at ridiculous prices?" His voice carried enough for Rowen to hear. "Looks more like a scam than anything else."

Cedric gave a short grunt of agreement. "Exactly. Look at those signs: tomatoes for focus, potatoes for energy recovery. Tricks to squeeze coins from gullible townsfolk." His gaze settled on Rowen, sharp and accusing.

Rowen didn't flinch. His expression stayed calm, his thoughts steady. If they don't want to buy, they don't have to. I'm not forcing anyone.

Instead of rising to their provocation, Rowen stepped forward and gave a respectful bow. "Teacher Marn," he greeted evenly, then turned toward Talia, "Teacher Talia. It's been some time."

Marn blinked, taken aback by the boy's composure. Talia inclined her head in return, her face unreadable.

Alric's brow furrowed. He and Cedric exchanged a look, irritation flickering between them. To be ignored so casually by a mere shop boy, especially one they suspected of deception, was a slight they weren't used to.

"This boy," Alric muttered, his tone tightening, "doesn't even have the manners to acknowledge us."

Cedric's jaw set as he took a step closer to the counter. "And he dares call himself honest while peddling lies. Someone should put him in his place before he tricks more people."

The tension in the air sharpened, though Rowen remained still, his eyes level, waiting.

Marn raised a hand, cutting off Cedric before he could speak further. "Enough. This isn't the place for accusations." His tone was calm but carried the weight of a man used to having his words obeyed.

He turned his gaze back to Rowen, studying him. The boy hadn't changed much in appearance, but there was a steadiness in his eyes now, a quiet strength Marn didn't remember from the classroom.

"So," Marn said at last, "this is what you've been doing since you left school. A shop." His words weren't scornful, more curious than anything. "When you refused my guidance, I thought you'd disappear into obscurity. Yet here you are, running a business that has the whole town talking."

Rowen met his former teacher's eyes and nodded once, not defensively, simply affirming.

Alric scoffed quietly, but Marn didn't let him interrupt again. "Alric, Cedric," he said firmly, "don't be so quick to dismiss what you don't understand. If people are willingly paying, perhaps there's more to these vegetables than meets the eye."

Talia, who had been silent until now, gave the faintest smile. She had already confirmed the truth for herself, though she said nothing; her silence only deepened the mystery for the two doubtful teachers.

Talia finally stepped forward, her expression steady. "I've already bought from this place," she said, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "And I can confirm the effects are real. Those tomatoes sharpen focus, and the potatoes restore energy faster than anything I've seen sold in town."

Alric and Cedric exchanged a look, their frowns deepening.

"You're saying a boy with no known talent, no awakened path, somehow stumbled onto something even trained alchemists struggle to produce?" Cedric asked sharply.

Talia shrugged. "Believe what you want. But I tested them myself before coming here again. The results speak for themselves."

Marn gave a small nod, as if her confirmation was the final piece he needed. He folded his arms and looked back at Rowen. "Then it seems you've chosen your path after all, boy. Not the one I wanted for you, but perhaps one just as important."

Alric's brows drew together as he glanced at Cedric. "Talia, are you seriously saying a dropout boy is achieving what licensed alchemists can't? Selling vegetables with enchantments?"

Cedric gave a short laugh, though there was no humor in it. "No wonder people are lining up. Scam the desperate with tall claims and a smile classic trick."

Rowen didn't flinch. He only inclined his head politely toward Marn and then Talia. "Teachers."

His calm dismissal of the two men, without even offering them a greeting, made their expressions harden.

Marn raised a hand before Alric or Cedric could retort further. "Enough. I taught this boy once, and I know his mind. If Talia confirms the good work, then perhaps we should be less hasty in calling him a liar."

Talia stepped in firmly, her voice cool but cutting. "Not 'perhaps.' I've used them myself. His goods are genuine, and if you doubt me, test them. Right here."

That challenge hung in the air, making Alric and Cedric pause.

Rowen scrolled through the first line of search results and paused at a post titled "The Foundation of Mana Cultivation: Rings of Power."

He tapped it open. The article was plain, likely written by a low-tier mage for beginners, but it was exactly what he needed.

After absorbing mana into the body, the first step for a mage is to condense it into a Mana Ring, the post explained. The Mana Ring forms in the center of the body, acting as the anchor for all further cultivation. The number of rings a person can form determines their level. The more rings, the higher their rank as a mage.

Rowen read slowly, making sure not to miss anything. His brow furrowed. So… first I need to actually form a ring, not just breathe mana in.

He leaned back against the counter, thinking hard.

Suddenly, the shop's bell rang.

Rowen's head jerked up from his screen. He set the phone down on the counter and glanced toward the door, wondering who was disturbing him.

Lyra pushed it open, stepping in first, followed closely by Aria and Calen. The three of them carried the same easy confidence they always had after a hunt. Their clothes were dusty, but their smiles gave away their mood.

"We're back," Lyra called, waving before moving toward the counter.

Rowen noticed right away their mana presence was sharper than before. The air around them carried a faint pressure, nothing dangerous but enough to show they had improved. They weren't hiding it, either; the three of them looked proud.

Calen grinned. "Another clean run. Monsters went down fast this time."

Aria adjusted the strap of her sword. "Our coordination's finally smoothing out. Spells, strikes, everything feels sharper."

Lyra nodded, her eyes bright. "We've all hit the peak of Apprentice. Soon we'll be stepping into the trainee level."

Rowen stayed quiet for a moment, watching them. Compared to his own uncertain path, their steady growth was almost frustrating. Still, he managed a small smile.

"Sounds like things are going well for you three," he said.

Calen wasn't alone. Behind him padded his contracted beast, the dog-like creature he had bonded with after his awakening. It crossed the door of the shop cautiously, instincts sharp despite its growth to peak apprentice level.

The moment it spotted Shade perched on the counter, however, all that strength shrank away. Its ears flattened, and it hesitated, tail lowering.

Shade lifted her head, letting out a soft "meow," nothing threatening, just her way of acknowledging them. Still, the sound was enough to make the beast step sideways, trying to keep distance.